Archbishop Okeke Hails Peter Obi’s Transformative Impact On Anambra Education

Archbishop Valerian Okeke has renewed his commendation of former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi for what he described as a transformative overhaul of the state’s education sector.

He made the remarks on Friday during a tour of key mission schools alongside the Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria, Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty; the Irish Ambassador, Peter Ryan; and other dignitaries.

The visit followed a Mass marking the 140th anniversary of the arrival of Catholic missionaries in eastern Nigeria.

The delegation began at Shanahan University, where they inspected ongoing construction at one of the Church’s flagship educational projects. They later visited Christ the King College (CKC) and Queen of the Rosary College (QRC), both in Onitsha, where Archbishop Crotty and Mr. Obi addressed and blessed students.

Archbishop Okeke reflected on the historical trajectory of mission schools in the region, noting that the institutions originally established and run by the Church flourished in their early decades. He explained that although the Church continued to sustain the schools after the civil war, state intervention about 40 years ago led to widespread decline, with crumbling facilities and falling academic standards.

He said this trajectory shifted dramatically under Peter Obi’s administration. After the Church appealed for the return of mission schools, Mr. Obi restored them to their original owners, a move the Archbishop described as “God’s intervention through a man who loves education.”

Within a year of the handover, Anambra moved from the bottom of national performance charts to the top. Mission schools under Church management went on to secure international academic laurels in the United States, Canada, Malaysia, Singapore, and Zimbabwe over a ten-year period.

Archbishop Okeke credited these achievements to Obi’s decision, calling him a central figure in the sector’s revival.

Reflecting on the reforms, Mr. Obi said he remained grateful to God for the chance to contribute to the state’s development.

He expressed hope that the progress recorded in Anambra’s education system would continue to strengthen and serve as a model for broader national improvement.